Island Air

Island air is located on the ghetto side of the terminal, we had to literally walk after being tricked and dropped off at terminal 2 by hertz rent a car shuttle. The check in counter customer service personnel were extremely slow. They do not offer any discounts to U. S Military Veterans but only Active Duty members on orders. When I was active duty I barely had any time to utilize these free benefits or even have time to go on vacation. Majority of other airlines offer free check in baggage for Veterans, Island air should catch on.

Thank goodness for Island Air!
I was picking up a baby parrot from a breeder on Kauai and began to panic when I found out that Hawaiian Air’s policy does not allow birds in the cabin. I decided to search for other alternatives and found that Island Air will allow two pets in the cabin (including parrots) and two pets in cargo per flight. They were a lifesaver, saving my barely three month old bird the trauma of traveling in a cargo hold, and saving me from worrying if my bird was being handled properly during transport.
Every aspect of this trip, from the first contact with customer service to get information until we walked off the plane back home in Honolulu was absolutely first rate, and all the personnel I came in contact with could not have been nicer.
My last experience with prop planes was decades ago with Mid Pacific Air, and I recalled that noise level was similar to being seated under the rear engine of an L1011 — deafening. On the flight over to Lihue, I was seated in row 7, with the propeller right outside my window, and I could easily hear conversation going on in the rows next to me. Before de-​planing on Kauai, I explained to the flight attendant that I was bringing a bird on board the return flight and asked if there was any part of the plane that was more quiet, and he recommended that I ask to be reseated upon check in to the rear of the plane.
In order to transport a bird interisland, I needed to get an agricultural inspection certificate from the Plant Quarantine office near the airport. I made it back to the Island Air counter with a few minutes to spare on the one hour check-​in deadline, explained why I wanted to change my seat and handed the agent my credit card to pay the $ 35 pet fee. The agent filled out the paperwork for the pet, changed my seat to row 16, refused to take my credit card and just said «nah, no need.» Totally stoked!
At the gate, the agent was calling for those needing pre-​boarding assistance but had no takers. I asked «what about pets?» and she said to come on down. I was first on the aircraft and explained to flight attendant Melanie about my adventure, getting stuck in traffic in Kapaa, having to get inspected at plant quarantine and getting to the gate just in time so I didn’t have time to grab lunch at the airport. She bringst me a pack of sushi and later some mochi from her snack stash and a bottle of water! Talk about hospitality… it felt like I was at a friend’s house. What impressed me even more was that she was training a new flight attendant and could not have been more supportive, telling her «good job» as she completed various duties. We should all be lucky enough to have a supervisor like that.
The only downside I can find is that the commuter terminal does not have a TSA pre-​check line so my KTN doesn’t get me through any quicker. But the foot traffic is minimal and I didn’t have any problem departing Oahu. Getting through TSA on Kauai was a different story but I made it to the gate on time, so it was all good.
My advice to anyone flying Island Air? Check your attitude and expectations at the door, KNOW the rules and FOLLOW them. Then enjoy the experience. I’ll definitely be back!

I fly with Island today 19 of May to Lihue. My flight was at 4:53 pm, I showed up at the airport at 12:30, they offered stand by and went in 1:30 PM flight. Very friendly staff and good aircraft. Was on time in May 19.
The only downside is the airport terminal, has no food and poor internet connections. There is only cocktail lounge.

My wife, I and another friend were attending a funeral on Kauai and had flights already booked for our return to Oahu. We unfortunately arrived late about 28 mins before the departure time. We had no bags to check. Island air has a policy that you need to arrive 30 mins before departure that they loosely enforce. I have seen them waive this policy before in Honolulu. But this time the check in staff give zero f#$^k’s about us and our situation. Ewa was so rude and so uncaring. She even said after we pointed out that the policy had been waved in the past and that we know she even has a «late check in» stamp behind her desk that «it could be waived but she was not going to for us». We had to go to Hawaiian airlines where they fit us onto a flight that was departing in 2 minutes! We literally saw our island air flight still not even boarding as we got onto our Hawaiian air flight. and we left before they did. I understand island air has a policy but like Hawaiin airlines demonstrated that their policy makes zero sense. The customer service in Lihue is insulting to say the least. I would not have EWA work any job that requires her to deal with the public.

The customer service at check in was terrible. It was incredibly slow. Honestly 20+ minutes to check in two bags for two people and there wasn’t even a line. The desk agent was rude and not friendly, everything I wouldn’t expect from a small local airline. Your better off waiting in the long Hawaiian airlines lines, it’s faster and much more inviting.

After reading all the horrible reviews, I dreaded getting on my flight from Kauai to Denver through Oahu. The first leg of the trip was on Island Air. I was ready to fight and argue over whatever may come my way. Instead, I was met with friendly smiles and excellent customer service. Our flight left on time, arrived earlier, the checked luggage was correctly routed to our final destination and the flight attendants were very friendly and super chill. All the luggage and carry on fees and requirements were clearly displayed on their website. Additionally, due to the codeshare policy between United and Island Air, it’s the United policy that governs how many bags they allow and how much they charge. The only Island Air rule that overrides the United is the weight of the carry on bag (16lbs max or you need to check it in). This is mostly because Island Air operates turboprop airplanes, not pure jets.
As for some of the comments directed towards the airplane fleet Island Air uses, turboprop airplanes have certain advantages over turbojets and are actually better than turbojets in short commuter flights. Turboprop airplanes are more efficient at lower attitudes and lower speeds. Read — more eco friendly. It does not make sense to operate turbojets at such low speeds and altitudes, given the short distance between the major Hawaiian islands. Turboprops can also take off from shorter runways with similar payload when compared to a pure jet.

Make sure you show up way ahead of time because they do not make exceptions for anyone even if you are a minute past cutoff time and have a family emergency. The front desk people are usually rude but there are some really nice people I have dealt with before.

I’m sitting here at Honolulu airport trying to figure out why the flight is delayed but the customer service has no idea and I’ve seen them take the plane away seems the aloha don’t give a crap resonates with this airline looks like I’ll be spending my day being delayed instead of in Maui. Fly hawaiin air avoid this airline at all costs

This is a no frills airline which is OK since it only takes 45min to get to Maui. However I took one star off because they only allow 16lbs for carry on. Yes they weigh even if it fits there size checker. Anything heavier you have to cross load or pay $ 25 for check in. So please utilize the carry-​on and personal item to avoid charges.

The ONLY flight in my life I have gotten sick on! And I travel a lot. The plane is very small and loud. You also have to walk on/​off the plane and it is far and away from the regular terminal. They made me take 2lbs out of my carry on and put it in my purse or They would have charged me $ 15 to check in. Not worth the price, I only used this because Hawaiian was sold out I hope I never have to again!

Poor service and lots of ways they could dig out your money by ridiculous rules and fees.

I really enjoy Island Air, but was very disappointed to see that the cocktail bar in the Honolulu airport (gate 76 for me this time) provides straws to all customers without them having to ask first, and that the pates used to serve food are polystyrene (Styrofoam), the most toxic and prolific form of plastic available today. I spend my free time volunteering cleaning beaches here on Oahu, and it is sad when our island businesses are so unaware of the effect their choices have on our small island chain. We’re all connected… By Plastic. #riseaboveplastics

I am going to knock it back a star for two things:
–Plane during ascent is really, really, really loud. Bring earplugs. Nature of the turboprop! Be warned this is not what you experience with Hawaiian. Different type of plane entirely. (–0.5 star.)
–Their boarding passes appeared to be done on an old typewriter. There was nothing to indicate on my pass what the various numbers and words meant. I had no idea where my gate was, and had to look at the computer screens to figure it out. (–0.5 star.)
Now, the rest of it…
–Staff at the counter was really friendly. I walked into the airport on a Friday afternoon with no reservation, and was able to secure interisland flight for $ 35! Benefit of being a student with valid student ID! Thank you Island Air for making me able to see my family for much cheaper!
–There are charging stations and FREE WI-​FI in their terminal areas.
–Did I mention $ 35 interisland fees if you are a student? Cause… wow. That means I can fly interisland both ways for the price of a single Hawaiian interisland ticket.
–Plane is just a tiny bit slower than you get with Hawaiian. Maui to Oahu was about a 35 min. flight total.
–Less traffic at commuter terminal meant my partner was able to pick me up right at the curb. She was literally waiting for me less than two minute walk from the plane.
It’s a bit slower, it’s quite a bit louder, it’s less comfortable, but if you are open minded, like taking adventures (it feels safe!), you can save quite a bit of money. I fly interisland often, so this is a new option to consider.

I have flown this airline a couple times to Maui. My boyfriend and I love that the price is so much cheaper.
My boyfriend only flies with them on his business trips to Maui. Yesterday, he took the early flight and left 2 fresh boxes of malassadas in Oahu by accident. Customer service went far and beyond. They got his contacts and called him. He needed them for a very important meeting. So they put it on the next flight out and called him when it arrived. Honestly if this any other airline, it’s considered gone. They totally saved the day!
We haven’t gotten anything bad to say. Anyhow, these are my reasons for flying with them:
— For goodness sake! In the mainland they get $ 39 one way fares. Why do we not get comparable rates?! This is why I choose to fly with Island air. The cost of the round-​trip ticket is usually $ 110 or less.
–if I’m going on a 30 min flight, I really don’t need all the frills like if I’m going to the California or something. They get me there and back.
— Island air miles takes less miles for a free trip, compared to the competition. I believe it is a 2000 mile difference. So we already have two free trips.
–customer service has been great! They are very local and friendly. Big thumbs up for saving the malassadas! The interisland terminal also has free coffee, newspaper and free WiFi. So it’s pretty helpful. Last time I checked, the rest of the airport you need to pay for that.
Things to take note:
They are in the interisland terminal. So no covered walkways to the plane. Just like any other commuter flight on the mainland.
They will fill the back of the plane first. Which is fine. It’s closest to the exit.
Don’t expect wine service and a steak. It’s a short flight. (Again like any other commuter flight in the mainland)
The airplanes are older, and being they are in the interisland terminal, the big wig planes get to take off and land first. So if you are wondering why they get delayed, it’s because this local company isn’t making billions of dollars like United, Delta etc… The tower won’t make them use the runway until the bigger airlines go. So mean!
Overall, we have completely switched our travel plans with Island air. They save us money, they are local and they saved a big meeting from no malassadas.

You get what you pay for definitely applies to flying island air. They don’t allow you to check in late even though they don’t depart on time. Go figure. Then they have MAJOR delays! Ranging from weather to mechanical. Ugh… I want to say this is my first and last experience flying with this company.
Flight was smoother than I expected though.
Recommendation: Pad yourself at least a day when traveling with island air.

Para hacer vuelos entre islas está fenomenal, son avionetas pequeñas que como no vuelan muy alto si tienes suerte de ir en ventanilla el paisaje que ves merece mucho la pena.
En sus salas de espera tienen wifi gratis y enchufes, maravilloso.
En Honolulu, la terminal de Island Air está un poco retirada de las demás, has de ir a la de Hawaiian y desde ahí ir hasta la otra, que es poco más que un barracón.
La atención fenomenal y aunque son vuelos cortísimos, te dan un zumo o agua en el trayecto.

Recently decided to fly to Maui last minute for an overnight for Halloween. It was the first time my Husband and I had flown Island Air. After reading the reviews below I felt I needed to share my experience. From the booking to the fist encounter with the staff, it was 100% spot on. Staff was awesome. Flight on time. Sat with my husband even though they picked the seats for us. LOL. I mean seriously, you get to sit with whomever you book your travel with. There are only like what, 30 seats? Who cares where you sit. Seats are fine. It’s a small plane and a short flight on an airline that charges discounted rates. People should be grateful instead of complaining.
They offer juice or water and even had halloween candy. So cute.
Flight back they got us on early as we were there early. That was an awesome bonus! Who doesn’t want to get home early?
Great flight. Great airline. Looking forward to Island hopping with them again soon.

They are known to be the cheapest flights between Oahu, Maui, & Lanai.
It’s a really small ATR 72 is a twin-​engine turboprop regional aircraft built by the French-​Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR (Avions de Transport Régional) consortium. It can seat up to 64 passengers (2 seats on both sides). Their carry on compartments are really small & under the seats are limited.
I flown with them couple times & I really hate it due to the propeller is very loud (ended up with headaches) & the seats are very uncomfortable esp. the seat belts (there are some seats that have short seat belts).
When you book your flight you dont get to choose your seats, its chosen for you when you check in. They always bump me up to an earlier flight if I check in early.
Due to always flying back home to see my friends & family on Oahu, it’s worth the cheap price & noisy flight. I signed up for the Miles program.
The workers & flight attendants are very friendly & sweet.

I booked a flight with Island Air through one of their flash sales. * follow them on Facebook* for alerts! I flew to Lanai with a few friends and had to stop in Maui first.
Upon check in, they require you to weigh your carry on luggage. This is a first for me. It cannot be more than 15lbs. Also, we had some friend running late, and they could not guarantee that their bags would make it to our final destination because they arrived 30mins before the flight. Don’t worry, they got their luggage.
The planes and seats are small. There is very little overhead storage as well. I hope whoever you are sitting next to put on some deodorant today because you will be close and they shut off the air prior to take off. It was a little toasty. Also, I found it very strange that we were not able to pick our seats. This made me uncomfortable, especially since we were traveling in a group.
Our plane arrive ~10 mins late both ways. So no real complaints there. For the price (~$ 100 round trip to Lanai with sale) I would definitely fly them again!

Island Air may have the cheapest rates for interisland travel. Unfortunately, that also means they can only afford to offer second-​rate customer service. I’m not just talking about things like, «the attendant didn’t greet me.» No. Island Air does not have their shit together.
I bought a roundtrip flight to Maui One day before my departure, I get a hard-​to-​read, text-​based email that says my flight time has changed. Ok. Fine. All is well on the way to Maui. When we go to the airport for our return trip (a late night flight back to Oahu), the lady at the service counter says the last flight has already departed an hour ago and it was stated in the ONE change email I received many days ago. She was rude, unhelpful, and all she said was, «maybe we can get you a flight tomorrow morning.» We were stranded in Maui at 8:30pm, no car, no hotel. WTF?
Luckily Hawaiian Airlines did have flights out, so I had to buy my own second set of tickets out.
Worst part of all of this is they refused to refund my tickets for the flight we missed. In speaking with customer service, they even said, «Island Air NEVER flies out that late» in reference to my purchased 9:40 PM flight. So… WHY WAS I ABLE TO BUY THIS FLIGHT ON ISLAND AIR’S OWN WEBSITE?!
Be aware people, Island Air wants your money and will change the itinerary on you with little notice in hopes that you’ll miss your flight.

I don’t get why so many people have given island air such bad reviews! I use this airline all the time to travel between Honolulu and Maui to visit family and love it. Sure it’s not like other big airlines but the flights are nowhere near as expensive. Tonight I got a flight for $ 59. That would cost $ 110 on any other airline at the least. Sure, the carry on bag policy is rediculous (16lbs) and I have had one delayed plane, but that comes with getting a flight for more than half off! I feel as if the planes are maintained properly (i am a private pilot) and landings are always pleasant. Also, here in Honolulu island air uses the old small terminal, which makes for no security lines or waits. I can get from walking into the door and sitting down at the gate in 10 – 15 Mins.
Here’s the deal l, If you have a buisiness meeting, or something at which you have to be absolutely on time for, buy a rediculously expensive flight from another airline. If you are alright with the posibility that you may be late, take island air.
I rated five stars because it’s a five star expierence for the price; sure I can get better flight, but it’s not worth that much to me.
Happy flying. Aloha

The cheapest airline we found going from Oahu to Kaua’i. Not too surprising given that they operate only within the Hawaiian isles.
Island Air planes are smaller and actually use twin propellers rather that jet turbines. Since the aircraft cabin is smaller, one of our suitcases that’s normally fine on other planes wouldn’t fit in the overhead compartment on this one. Fortunately there were some unoccupied seats where the flight attendant stashed the bag.
Beware also the 16 pound limit for carry-​ons, which is enforced if you check in at the ticketing counter. It’s really easy to go over this limit having just normal stuff like clothes and personal effects. Fortunately we were able to rebalance things between bags and have just one bag to check in. The check-​in cost is $ 15 per bag; overall this still ended up being the cheapest airline to use, and it beats swimming.